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such as to call for the most active and vigorous preparations for carrying on the war. A loan was authorized; an additional number of troops were to be enlisted; and all the necessary provisions for a serious conflict were made. The President called upon the national legislature to meet the coming storm with firmness becoming the representatives of a free and magnanimous people.

Captain Chauncy of the navy was sent to Lake Ontario to organize a naval force. So rapid were his operations, that before winter set in, he had gained the ascendency on the Lake, had captured a British vessel, and driven their fleet to take shelter in the harbor of Kingston.

While congress was engaged in these affairs, news arrived of a third victory obtained over a British frigate. On the 29th of December, at two o'clock P. M. the Constitution, Captain Bainbridge fell in with and captured the British frigate Java of 50 guns, and upwards of four hundred men, commanded by Captain Lambert a distinguished officer. The action lasted about one hour and an half, during which time the enemy was completely dismasted, and their commander mortally wounded. On board were General Hislop destined to the command of Bombay, together with several other officers of distinction. The prize could not be brought in, having been reduced to a perfect wreck. The victor reached Boston in February, and received the same honours as were uniformly paid to our naval commanders.

The rejoicings for this happy occurrence were not a little damped by intelligence of the critical situation of General Harrison. This officer finding his force much weakened by the loss of numbers as well as of the aid

and council of so many able officers and intelligent men; deemed it prudent to entrench himself near the Miami. He constructed hastily a stockade, which he called fort Meigs, in honour of the active and patriotic Governor of Ohio, who had exerted himself in the most laudable manner to further the preparations on foot. His rude fortifications were still incomplete when the enemy consisting of a combined force of British and Indians under General Proctor made its appearance. The fort was manned with about a thousand men, chiefly volunteers, was closely invested by more than double the number. A fire was mutually kept up each day for some time, when a messenger informed the American commander of the approach of twelve hundred men, under General Clay. A well planned sortie in conjunction with the reinforcement was resolved upon. Colonel Dudley descending the Miami at the head of a detachment in pursuance of the preconcerted plan, suddenly landed on the left bank of the river, assailed the British batteries, and completely drove them the field; unfortu nately, however, the impetuosity of his troops could not be checked; they persisted in pursuing the enemy, until they reached a wood, where they were suddenly surrounded and the greater part cut to pieces or made prisoners. The Colonel who had endeavoured to make good his retreat to the boats was slain in the struggle. On the opposite side the sortie on the British works, was completely successful. Colonel Miller, of the gallant 4th, who was chosen for this purpose, drove the besiegers from all their works. On that side also the ungovernable headlong daring of the Kentuckians' was near being ruinous to them; they were only saved by a vigorous charge of the horse which covered their retreat, Among

the distinguished officers of the day we find the names of Major Alexander, Captains Croghan, Bradford, Nearing, Sabrie, and Lieutenants Campbell and Gwynn.

This put an end to the siege of fort Meigs. During the siege which lasted thirteen days, the Americans lost eighty killed, and one hundred and fifty wounded, besides those who fell a sacrifice to the fury of the savages under Dudley. Had the enemy been successful, the most disastrous consequences would have followed. The whole frontier was thus placed in a state of security, from the murderous incursions of the savages.

CHAPTER VIII.

CAPTURE OF THE PEACOCK-OTHER naval affairs.

THE naval incidents of the second year of the war, with one or two exceptions, were of the same brilliant 'character as the first. The opening of the year, was signalized by the capture of the Peacock, by the Hornet, Captain Lawrence. This vessel had been left by Commodore Bainbridge shortly before his capture of the Java, to blockade the Bonne Citoyenne a British vessel then in the port of St. Salvador. The British vessel thought proper to decline the challenge. On the 24th of January the Montague 74 hove in sight, on which the Hornet was compelled to raise the siege.

The Hornet by this occurrence was compelled to strike out a new course. On the 23d of February she discovered an English brig lying at anchor near the Carabona banks; Captain Lawrence stood for her, but while in the act of beating round for the purpose of coming up, another vessel of war was espied making towards the Hornet. This proved to be a large man of war brig the Peacock, Captain Peak. It was not long before they were both engaged. In fifteen minutes the Peacock could with difficulty be kept from sinking, she hung out signals of distress at the same moment that she hauled down her flag. The generous Lawrence imme

diately dispatched his boats to assist in saving the vanquished crew: every possible effort was made, but in spite of all they could do she went to the bottom, carrying down three American seamen and five of her own. The officers and crew having been deprived of their clothing, were supplied by the Americans who shared with them like brothers. The injury of the Hornet wasvery slight. The British, mortified beyond measure at the repeated defeats which they had experienced, "found it necessary seriously to devise some mode of retrieving their credit. Several frigates were fitted out in the best possible manner, with picked crews, Marksmen, in imitation as they pretended of the Americans, were stationed in the tops, and the artillerists were trained with peculiar attention. The numbers of the crews were increased for the purpose of boarding, in fine nothing was left undone that might enable them to cope with the formidable Americans. Captain Lawrence returned in April, and after experiencing every mark of honour, which his country could bestow, was appointed to the command of the Chesapeake at Boston, the unfortunate vessel which had before the war received so great an insult from the British. The Shannon and Tenidos were at this time cruizing off the harbour, and sending challenges to the American commanders of frigates. Lawrence unfortunately never received any of them, and was not aware that he had to contend with an enemy specially prepared; but perceiving a British vessel casting defiance as it were in his teeth by

rading in full view of him, he burned to sally forth and try the fortune of his arms. The Chesapeake was undergoing some repairs, the greater part of her crew had been discharged, new hands were to be enlisted, and many of the most important equipments to be made. His impag

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